Elite 8!

Go Tigers!

And as if life wasn't crazy enough...

We've gone 5 whole days without a foster, which is the longest streak in around 5 months. It was nice. We were getting used to what it felt like to have just our family (we haven't had that since Emma came into the picture).

And how quickly normalcy can get taken away from you.


Today a guy who works with a lady in my office (so a co-worker, but not) came in and chatted it up like usual. He came over to a group of three of us, and announces, "It's your lucky day! I'm trying to get rid of a chocolate lab puppy. Who wants it?"

Shit.


I asked why he was getting rid of her, and it turns out his roommate actually saved her. She and a sibling had been dumped out in the country. The sibling wasn't so lucky - he was killed by a car - but the roommate picked up this little girl and took her home. They had no real intention of keeping her, and were trying to (quickly, I think) find a home for her. Being the pessimist that I am, I was fearful they'd give her to the first taker, rather than take the time to place her in a responsible home who would do basic things (you know, like spaying her so this stupid cycle won't continue). So to our home she came.

She doesn't have a name yet, but I'm working on pimping her out to as many people as possible. She a young girl - 5 weeks or so - but she's already feisty as can be. She's got an attitude, and I love it.

I don't mind the puppy breath either. :)

She's looking for a home!

Our ZooToo visit!

Geez. I told you I've been slacking with the posts. Yikes.

So our Zootoo visit for Phase 2 was last week, and it was seriously incredible. So many people lined the streets of downtown Columbia to welcome the CEO of the website to down, and there were an estimated 250-300 who were at the shelter when he arrived. The tour of the shelter went very well, he spoke to the crowd and presented Libby and Amanda the $10,000 check for winning Phase 1.

My friend Amanda (different one), a super awesome photographer, took some great pictures of the event (and I'm posting one below - hopefully it's okay!). I'm not a super touchy, emotional lady most of the time, but seeing the community support through her pictures was absolutely incredible. It seriously brought tears to my eyes. I'm so floored by the support our community is showing to help so many homeless animals, and I hope and pray it can continue regardless of the outcome of this contest.

First up, the Chins

Batshitcrazy Gilliford

Fostered 2.8.09 - 3.21.09

Bontiferous
Pulled from Craigslist and fostered by awesome Megan for 3 weeks
Fostered by us 3.4.09 - 3.21.09

After several weeks and several botched attempts at getting those furry, smooshy-faced beasts moved 710 miles, we finally got a transport filled and got those guys to Kingsport, TN to their new foster home with Japanese Chin Rescue. Their new foster mom works at a vet clinic, and she'll get them speutered and on the website in no time!

They were really great dogs (even Gil, despite being locked in the bathroom constantly), and we'll totally miss them. Being that JCs are such an uncommon breed, it's so weird that we've had three. They're a really neat, personable breed, and one I would totally recommend to people in the future (and of course, I think you should rescue).

Bonnie's not so impressed with her transport.

And some Gil pictures just for fun (because he's SUCH a nut).

I've got some catching up to do...

Seriously, I'm not good at keeping up with this regularly. What would help with that? You people commenting on my stuff. Get on it. ;)

Updates to follow.

Shake your Bon Bon

Bonnie, 1 year old Chin. The other one we pulled from Craigslist a few weeks ago.

A friend from the shelter was awesome enough to foster her until last week, and now we have her (which worked out perfectly, because Colby was adopted, so we're able to juggle her without going mad). I'm hoping and praying she and Gil will be truckin' it down to Tennessee (where their foster home with JC Rescue is located) this weekend. And then - crazy - it will just be US! Our family. No fosters. Wow. I won't know what to do with myself.

Holy Shnikes!!

So, since my last update about the Zootoo makeover competition, BIG things have happened.

We sat in third place for several days, and finally moved up to second Saturday. I woke up this morning and logged on, and much to my surprise we've moved up to FIRST PLACE! Holy crap!

So here's what this means...

Phase 1 of the competition - the point accumulation phase - ends this Friday. At that point, whichever shelter has accumulated the most points automatically wins $10,000, completely separate from the rest of the competition.

Phase 2: Begins next week - all shelters in the top 20 will get a visit from the Zootoo Crew. Our visit is scheduled for March 18, as we're very obviously going to remain in the top 20 once phase 1 ends. After they visit all 20 shelters, they will narrow it down to 10.

Phase 3: The Top 10 Shelters move onto the "America Votes" phase, where anyone on the website (with a profile picture) can vote up to 10 times a day for their favorite shelter.

The 10/20 who don't advance to Phase 3 get $5,000.

The winner gets a $1M makeover.
First runner up: $50,000
Second runner up: $25,000
The rest of the people in Phase three: $10,000 each.

So at a minimum, our shelter will get $5,000, but if we advance to Phase 3, I feel confident we will get much, much more.

How exciting is that?! Pretty dang exciting if you ask me. You still have a few days to register for the site and get my shelter a few points, so I highly suggest it (www.zootoo.com, zip 65201, Central Missouri Humane Society). :)

Busy, busy weekend!

Yesterday I worked at the Humane Society's annual Spay Day, and it was REALLY successful! There were a ton of people who came in to sign up for surgeries, and even more who came in for the low cost vaccinations, nail clipping, and microchipping! Excellent day all around!

Sunday started off by pulling an 8-year-old Cavalier from CMHS for Cavalier Rescue, and transporting him to his new home around Kansas City (well, halfway at least). His new foster parents seemed really great, and the fact that they prefer senior dogs with health issues is about the coolest thing ever.

Fitz

Then, this afternoon, an older gentleman wanted to meet Colby. Kyle and I met him and his 13-year-old granddaughter at the shelter and chatted for a while. I had a few hesitations about him, and whether or not he met my standards for adopting one of my fosters. But the guy seemed super smitten with Colby, and that, combined with the fact that my opinion doesn't carry much weight with the adoption counselors, made me pleased enough to let him take our foster who has been with us the longest! The guy is a flower delivery driver, and wants a buddy to go on his route with him, and then one to be a lap dog at home - Colby most definitely fits the bill. And of course, we had to send him on with his wubby.

This is my frog, damn it.

And lastly - CMHS has moved up to THIRD in the shelter makeover competition. This is seriously incredible. At this pace, we will likely end the competition in first place, which is an automatic $10,000 to the shelter, regardless of if we were to win the actual makeover. How awesome is that?!

I'm also pretty stoked, because I've been in friendly competition with my friend Amanda for the top point-earner position for the shelter, and I finally beat her out this weekend! Granted, we're within points of each other, so we switch back and forth, but I still take internet-nerd pride in knowing I'm basically tied as the highest point earner. :) Speaking of, here is the newest video I uploaded to the site, which for some reasons cracks my stuff up! It was taken shortly after Emma decided to dig a hole into one of our guest bed mattresses. Fortunately it's a super, super cheap mattress, so I'm not totally heart broken.